Purgatory Pizza

I've been a Purgatory customer for over 10 yrs because I love the calzones, even though they are sometimes inconsistent in size. Today's calzone, however, left me beyond disappointed as it was more like a hot pocket! I don't know if my order was understood or not, the guy taking orders was somewhat rude and didn't give me a receipt. I ordered and really wanted extra pepperoni, mushrooms and pineapple....please see the following photo for what I actually got. I'm sorta sad because the price of the calzones has gone up so significantly from the time I first discovered them, and I happily pay no matter what if only I got what I ordered.

Went again to update my review. Turns out they had a new guy doing the calzones. Fair enough. They provided another. It was much better. Crispy, buttery, cheesy as it should be, and delicious! So I update my review to 5 stars. Thank you for the yummy food.

Looooove Purgatory! The vibes are good, pizza is delicious and the beers are always cold. Grab a Sicilian slice if you see it available. You won’t regret it. Anytime I take the Metro E line I make a stop before, sometimes on the return, going through as the stop is right in front of the entrance. They have 3 columns of pizza. Regular, veggie and vegan so everyone’s happy.

Found a new place to get a quick munch on with a great atmosphere and street art all over the place. And if you don't drive or ride a bicycle like I do, you can take the Metro Gold line and get off at the Aliso Village station directly across the street from here. The lobby and dining area are great and I'll be sitting at the table next to the entrance facing the register from now on. The crust to their Detroit and Sicilian styles are really good and as far as myself, 2 slices were enough to satisfy me. Due to inflation and possibly the tariffs, you'll pay quite a bit more. I think each slice averages the price of $7 each. I didn't ask because I was hungry and it was a hot day in Boyle Heights during my visit. Plus it's better than that corporate pizza stuff you see on TV. 🍕

Their BBQ Chicken House Pizza is absolutely delicious and a favorite in our family! Every slice comes loaded with tender organic chicken, juicy pineapples, and perfectly cooked red onions, all topped with their signature BBQ sauce that tastes far better than any other brand we’ve tried. The flavor is rich, smoky, and just the right amount of sweet — truly mouthwatering. The place itself is very inviting, with a cozy and family-friendly atmosphere where kids can have a great time. The staff are welcoming, and the ambiance feels cheerful and relaxed, perfect for both small family dinners and friendly get-togethers. Plus, they offer plenty of free parking, which makes visiting super convenient. Overall, a perfect spot for pizza lovers who enjoy great taste and comfort!

A friend took me to this spot a few yrs ago and I have been spark🎆 every since. The staff treat you very nice and respectable. The vegan pizza is in a class of its own, I mean so good that I took a bus a train and walked 2 blocks to get there when my ride was down😂 "True story"! They have a pretty big menu but to keep it a💯 I go for the Vegan Pizza They use to have a vegan cc cookie and brownie👻yea I'm calling you out what's up wit dat🤨 but if you haven't tried it definitely gotta get ur tongue on dat fr. & who knows ya m8ght run into me down there and if ya do please 😎 No autographs! (Photo coming soon)

Their BBQ Chicken house pizza is highly delicious!!! My whole family loves every slice of pizza filled with organic chicken, pineapples, and red onion. Their BBQ sauce is also highly tasty, much better than the other pizza brand we tried. I don't know how they create such a wonderful sauce.

I love this place. Changing my 5 star to 1 star, because I was pushed out... I came here to relax and calm down and meet friends, order some pizza and have a good time. I figured I could be happy here. I sat in the car for a moment. Was getting ready to get out. A guy approached me and told me to leave. The guy that was telling me to go was raza too. I've been here so many times, so many good memories from going after we throw an event at Self Help. I'm used to parking here as it has never ever been a problem. I just had to take a breather and take a quick dr call. It was real quick less then 5 min. I guess I didn't look like a person that should park there? This guy told me that I have to leave and not occupy the parking lot. I then took a personal call. He said I can't be here waiting unless I order, I must take my call inside, even if it's personal. My wait was less than 5 minutes. He said I can't be here. I told him I was there to buy pizza. I truly was. I was also waiting for friends. He didn't believe me. I've been a customer before many times. I recently dyed my hair brown from blonde, idk if that changed anything... It was such a stressful interaction. He tried to act like he didn't push me out when I went into the restaurant. Get off my call and buy. I've never ever ever had that happen there. I am sure if I looked different he wouldn't talk down to me like that. Why be in East LA if you don't like East LA people. Basically told me hurry up and buy. We ended up just driving down the street and going to try the Pinks. Guess it ended up ok.

The food was excellent! Great taste and quality; very good pizza selections. Employees were very welcoming and helpful, everything was simple and straightforward. Loved the vibe (coming from a young adult) very on trend with music and the designs on their walls were very cool. I would definitely recommend!!

Welcome to Purgatory. Epic place, parking is still a journey, but some how we found a few options right on Utah. This East LA/East Los Angeles diamond in the rough encompasses all things Angelino w/ a lot of flare, flavor, and fuego offerings. You can enjoy your eats inside with ample seating as well as on the parking lot seating. A great place for all pizza lover with classic, veggie and my personal favorite, vegan pies. It's gritty, artsy and creative with an awesome cast/crew of P.P. peeps running the show. Just across from the Metro (forever) Gold (E) Line station for Pico / Aliso at the corner of 1st Street/Utah Street. We popped in for dinner after cruising through Mariachi Plaza and having a late afternoon in all the "Heights" from Lincoln to Boyle. The White Reaper (fully vegan) almond ricotta style pizza was the star of the show. My boyfriend and I both had one. He also had the classic version, The White Iverson and agreed that the W.R. was next level. I enjoyed the Vegan & Sara (loaded with a lot of goodness) as well, but not nearly as much. This version of the V&S had some nice vegan sausage The decor feels more lively, vibrant and like a full blend of the East side of LA. They have good desserts in the form of cookies, brownies, etc with vegan friendly offerings as well. Good refreshments from soft bottled and canned drinks/soda/pop, juices/jugos, and more, plus they have beer!!! Just add some wine to the mix (Malbec, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Rosé all day) and I'm gonna be here way to much lol All their pastas can be ordered vegan, calzones also and they offering catering?? Might need to have a pizza birthday this year! Gender neutral restrooms, great music (though someone wasn't feeling a few songs toward the end of the meal so there were some skips lol). TV in the dinning area w/ lots of art and graffiti art throughout. Purgatory has some merch and you can often see them spinning dough and working their magic from start to finish. My guy was like let's get more pizza next time! So we'll DEFINITELY BE BACK, sooner than I've been Happy Hour during the week from 6pm to 9pm, Monday through Thursday!!

Ordered a Margherita pizza .. It was OK .. Nothing Special .. Also ordered a Detroit .. Unable to eat .. Dough was not fully cooked through .. disappointed .. :(

Sloppy Experience (and not in a good way) Purgatory Pizza, I love y'all... but this visit? Straight purgatory for real. Me and my girl waited in a long-ass line, stomachs touching our backs, just to order the last 3 Sloppy Pigs. I got 2, she got 1. Easy math. The cashier charged us for all 3, so I'm thinking we're good. Nope. We sit down and the lady comes back like, "Actually I can only give you 2 because someone behind you ordered one." Huh?? So now we just giving up food like it's a charity drive? I'm sorry, but why is my plate the community plate? I waited. I paid. I did my time in that line like a responsible adult. I shouldn't have to donate my Sloppy Pig to some grown man who pulled up late to the party. If you only had 3 left, and I paid for 3, that should be the end of the story. Do your job. Count. Respect the line. Respect the order. Respect the Sloppy Pig. Do better, Purgatory. I shouldn't have to fight spiritual battles just to get my food. By the way this was a couple months back.

This was my first time eating in the restaurant. I would usually order pizza delivery when I worked in DTLA. My friends and I were near the neighborhood and I suggested we come to eat here. They agreed. My friends order the pizza half Sloppy Pig and the other half Hawaiian Express. I ordered my go to pizza the White Iverson (forgot to take photo). The pizzas were delicious as always!! The right amount of pizza crust and toppings ratio! The pizza was hot and cheesy!! We were very happy with our choices! I had never had the Sloppy Pig and it was amazing, so meaty and delicious! I'm definitely going to order that one again! The restaurant was clean and so were the restrooms! Staff were very nice and helpful! I totally recommend this place! Parking is a bit cramped but not bad.

The pizza here is great. Every slice is good and they even have vegan options. The vibes inside are pretty cool as well!

Really enjoy coming here , they are always packed but they are speedy !im super picky with dough & They have their dough Down! It has such a great bite to it along with structure so so yummy!

Another visit to one of my favorite pizza spots in LA. Love the divey feel that makes think of my favorite places in New York. It's small but still has big enough tables for large groups. The waiters are always nice and great at recommend types of pizza when they change out the toppings. I would definitely suggest the garden slice and to go during happy hour

This place is always bomb. Been offering for years. It's expensive tho. And in this economy it hurts my heart to pay so much for pizza.

If you're looking for fresh, flavorful pizza, this place delivers in every way. Their pizzas taste like they just came out of the oven with high-quality ingredients, and I love that they offer plenty of vegetarian and even vegan options so everyone can enjoy. Happy hour here is seriously top-notch--great deals and a perfect excuse to come by more often. The ambiance is laid-back and inviting, with a cool, casual vibe that gets even better when they host their occasional punk rock shows down the alleyway. Between the amazing atmosphere, friendly staff, and superb pizza, this spot has quickly become one of my favorites.

Top 3 vegan pizza places in LA... all day. The vegan caesar salad is amazing too. The staff is always great.

Great pizza, good vibe and cold drinks. The staff is super helpful and friendly. My favorite is the white Iverson but all the pizza selection is tasty. The prices are on par with other pizza places- this ain't Costco pizza so don't expect Costco prices -this is homemade goodness.

One of the best pizzas ive had in LA. The shop is small however the pizzaswere so good. Really fresh ingredients. Slices were petty big. Nice crunch on the crust. All of the slices were heated in the oven so it tasted way better than microwaving it. The server forgot one of the 3 slices i ordered. Therefore she apologized and comp the slice. Not only did she comp it she added a 2nd for free. 5/5 food. Most definitely will back

Delicious pizza all around. I appreciate their feminist and queer friendly art and pizza. Forever adore their gluten free AND vegan pizza with yummy veggie toppings. Quick and easy to order and ready real quick. Staff are friendly and welcoming and lots of seating and parking as well. This will be my go to gluten free AND vegan pizza option which is rare to find.

I would avoid the chooch special. Their Instagram post (as referenced in the attached) made it look like a regular pizza on their signature Purgatory box at an insanely discounted price. What you actually get makes much more sense. Barely any cheese (lots of Italian seasoning to compensate) in a non-descript, thin cardboard box. The crust is also pretty different and lackluster. My guess is that it had a minimal proof. Yelp formatting is weird, so it's not showing the pic below, but if you click for all my pictures, you can see a picture I've included of the Chooch special. Don't get me wrong, it's still an incredible value, what can you expect for $11, but at the same time, had I known this was what I would be getting, I'd have just stayed home and paid the $100 or whatever to have Uber Eats deliver me a pizza I'd actually eat instead of drive an hour for this trash. 5 stars because their other offerings are good, and I get it, Chooch special to drive traffic Mondays and Tuesdays so they can keep operating 7 days a week, blah blah, but don't use deceptive marketing.

Purgatory pizza was an awesome experience. The food was so flavorful. I had the bbq chicken and white Iverson pizza slices with a agave beer from Booch Craft.The first slice was delicious and the second one was even better. The restaurant is full of art work and the more you look around the cooler it gets. I recommend it if you are in area and what to experience the LA food culture. 5 stars all day

Service sucks at this place. Ordered a pizza and never got delivered. I'll make sure I never order from this place again.

Found a great deal online. Staff was great. Slices were delicious. Private lot and seating on the side. Will be returning.

Always the best their pizza. And their wings too they are fresh. Food is fresh I ordered through door dash and it came warm.

Super cool spot, staffed by super cool people, serving up super cool slices. I really enjoyed my food and experience, and would love to come back.

Super crispy Detroit styled pizza (must get whole pies) and NY slices by the slice! This might be my new favorite pizza spot. It was such a wet and dense pizza but the bottom and sides had an incredible crunch. Everything tasted fresh! I was full after one slice. Conveniently located off the A line, this is an easy trip on the train. Not sure about the parking situation, but it appears to be mostly street parking. Bathrooms were clean and had a sink that requires you to press a pedal with your foot, cool! It's not very bright in here due to the backlit window situation so sit by the window if possible (for food pics!)

The staff is usually nice (and hot), I appreciate being able to purchase a variety of pizzas by the slice! The parking can get a little tricky but it's right next to the e line!

The pizza here is pretty solid--thin crust, so I could honestly eat a whole box myself. I tried the Dante's return, Sloppy pig, White Iverson, and BBQ chicken. The Dante's return was my favorite--the jalapeños give it a nice kick without being overwhelming. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but the quality makes it worth trying at least once or twice.

Awesome vegan pizza! Hands down. The Sicilian is my favorite. The crust is amazing. I The sauce is just right. Not too saucy and not too tangy like most marinara sauces. A must try when in LA. Lots of options for vegan pizzas. I even warmed it up in an oven and made it crispy and it was still delicious the next day. You have to try it

Terrible customer service. Their online ordering was unavailable so I called in and was immediately placed on hold for over 15 minutes and ultimately hung up on. All my in person experiences have been terrible as well. Twice I've gone around 4-5pm only to find out they are prioritizing whole pizza orders, single slices are unavailable or extremely limited. Only come here if you plan to order a whole overpriced pizza.

WOW! They just gave me a free pizza slice while picking up another pizza! How nice of them! Her name is Nikki, Specifically a sloppy pig slice which looks really amazing! This place has some character and they have beautiful affirmations on the walls! Their bathrooms are clean and modern and they have parking!

Visited Purgatory Pizza with my running group. I had their Hawaiian variant. The pizza was premade and heated up when you order. They sell "water cups" for $0.75. The ambiance is casual and perfect for a quick bite. I like that they also have their own parking lot - a rarity in Downtown LA. Thought they are located more on the outskirt of 'downtown.'

Solid pizza option in an artsy/eclectic atmosphere w/ friendly service and numerous vegan/vegetarian options @ reasonable prices

Literally never had Detroit style before in my life, but truly the one I had at Purgatory pizza made me a new person. SO good. Also, the garlic knots and potato wedges were bomb. Pretty reasonable price too!

Their thin-crust pies achieve that rare balance between crisp and chewy, with every bite delivering nuanced flavor, whether you're going traditional or venturing into their imaginative vegan or spicy selections. The vegan cheese isn't an afterthought; it's creamy, melty, and satisfying. The calzones are generously packed, the salads refreshingly well-composed, and the entire vibe makes it clear this is a place where passion meets craft.

Purgatory pizza is simply delicious. The place has changed quite a bit over the years but it has been for the better. To be completely honest I always only get the pepperoni pizza and it is great. I love the fact that you can buy by the slice and not force to buy the whole pie. Service is good and attentive. Strongly recommend.

Purgatory was one of the first pizzerias that I discovered in LA, which included vegan options that don't suck. Not only pizza, but appetizers & (I believe sometimes?) vegan desserts as well? yummm. The vegan slices vary depending on what's available the day you go, but you can always order a full pie of any of the ones on the menu. I've never had issues dining in (aside from parking- thx dtla) A must for me is the buffalo cauliflower! For more vegan recs and content follow my instagram: Soybienvegana

Great ingredients, staff, and service. Parking is tricky since it's a one way street so be ready. If you miss their parking lot then park on the residential street right after. Recommend putting in your order online due to the many customizing options. Pizza is thin and crispy. Not loaded with pizza sauce that drops everywhere. The toppings is the focus and crispy pizza pie.

Been a while since I have been here but I do remember how good the food was. Location is a bit strange you could almost miss it driving by. But stop when you can it's a friendly and wonderful place. The people will take care of you.

It was really hot in here when we came around 6pm but the pizza was really good. My partner is vegan so I'm glad there were options for him. Ambiance - casual and chill. Service was good. Super friendly and educated on all the different types of pizza. I think we got 5 different slices total. Would definitely come back! They have a lot to park or you can park on the streets and walk over.

We came here for dinner with my uncle. We ordered the sloppy pig pizza. It was thinking crust pizza, like new york pizza style and size. It was so perfectly cooked and crispy. It was so delicious and we were so quiet when we ate. I definitely want to try other pizzas as well. It's a chill vibe and nearby public transportation. There is parking on the side of restaurant. It is chill and I definitely want to come back. It feels like a backyard and the service reflects that friendliness too. They are very helpful when we asked how big the pizza was.

Great pizza spot in DTLA! Vegan pizza is on display to your right, veggie in the middle and meat to rule left. Great ambiance, service and food! Happy to see they have Brouwerij West available!

I've been to Purgatory a few times over the years. Let me start by saying the vegan pizza at purgatory is superb! They have many vegan options available. I purchased the Pineapple Express pizza slice and a veggie pizza slice along with a vegan Caesar salad. Everything was so tasty! I love pineapple on my pizza! I wish I would've got 2 Pineapple Express pizzas because that one tasted better. The slices are thin which I like. I love thick crust also but the thin slice makes me feel like I'm eating less calories. The customer service was great and the restaurant was clean. The employee that took my order was very friendly and informed me of the available vegan options. The parking is not that great at all. It's like a one way parking row on the side of the building. If a car is blocking you from exiting then you just have to wait until they come out or take a chance and back up into the street.

Honestly the best pizza in the area hands Down and one of my top 10 in the whole City. I'm not vegan but have had their vegan options and they're bomb- Favorite slice is the dante's return or the sloppy pig. The wings come out steaming and are also pretty good I'm a bit of a snob cuz I do em at home in my smoker but these are good, and they even have Tapatio there which is right up my alley. Ambiance: kinda modern nice would table tops, eclectic contemporary type art with words on the inside think moca but in a pizza place. Service: always friendly tbh and I had to come on here and right a review because of it. They have other stuff on the menu like cookies, wedges, garlic knots, and beer too which I haven't tried yet.

Pizza was good Wings were amazing Friendly service And the place was clean. I had trouble parking but other than that it was good

First time here and it was pretty good! It was a little bit of a challenge to find parking at first as there's only about 3-5 spots in the small back lot and then street parking. One side is street sweeping from 12-3pm on Tuesdays and the opposite side is the same time but on Wednesdays so if you want to avoid that, come on a different day or after 3pm. When we first walked in, the vibe was interesting with the writing on the wall and the cool merch they were selling. The space inside was decent but also quite small. When it came to service, it was slow when we first got there but eventually got to order and the lady mentioned that the pizzas on display were the only ones they were able to serve when my friend wanted to try something from the menu. That was unfortunate but we decided to pick a couple of slices from the selection. My friend is vegan so she got the Vegan and Sara & the Buffalo Bill slices. I got slices of the White Iverson and the Dante's Return and then we also shared the Santorini Salad & Madame Shugah Brownie. The brownie would've been even better if they had ice cream to add with it. (Just a little suggestion!) They were all super delicious and my friend actually enjoyed the vegan stuff. My favorite was the Dante's Return. We saw that they had a deep dish so we definitely want to come back to try it next time. Definitely recommend if you want a vegan option for pizza and/or just craving pizza in LA. Also side note, they have all gender restrooms and it slides open and there's even a button plus you have to step on a pedal for you to use the sink. Took me a good amount of minutes to figure that out before I was able to wash my hands so I'm just saving you the trouble now if you ever use their restroom. The restrooms were pretty neat though!

When my husband and I were looking for a late-night snack to serve at our wedding in downtown LA, the internet led me to Purgatory Pizza, and I'm so glad it did! With about 48 hours notice we placed a delivery order for their catering package B. Not only were we able to include regular, vegan, and gluten-free options, they were able to cut most of the pizzas (not the gluten-free) into a heart shape, which was so cute for our wedding! The delivery order arrived just as it was supposed to, and they even supplied plates and napkins. I don't eat dairy, but my husband does and even he enjoyed the vegan pizza, something he doesn't usually say! Our guests all loved it and it was a great and reasonably priced touch to our wedding. We can't wait to visit in person to enjoy the pizza again!

I used to work at prime pizza by little Tokyo . A lot of the customers used to recommend this by place d my partner also recommend this place since last year . I finally came and I can say thin crust cheese is one my favorites . It's so cheesy just the way the wanted and likedit . I was craving more but my stomach said no . first time trying the Bombay style crust ... it was a different texture but overall good . The cashiers were friendly and they answered all my questions without no hesitation. Thank you The prices are super affordable! I definitely need to come here when it's happy hour . Restaurant was clean and workers are very attentive to everyone's need . it's has very welcoming atmosphere . Everybody is happy

My wife had been wanting to go here for years and we were finally able to go the other night. As a former Michigander, Detroit style is my favorite (followed closely by New York). She's never had a real slice, so we thought we would give Purgatory a try. First of all, the pizza isn't cheap. We spent almost 30 for the pie and a couple of drinks. It comes with only six slices. We were both starving and we were warned it was going to take a bit of time, so she ordered a tradition slice while we waited. The normal slice of Pepperoni was very good. "We" (mostly her) scarfed it down before I could snap a photo. But it was a good slice. A nice hold over until the pie arrived. When it did, we dove in...and immediately noticed the incredible amount of Pepperoni and cheese. There has to be close to an entire stick of Pepperoni. It's amazing! The picture I took didn't do it justice. Some of the stacks were like 6-8 high. And trying to separate a slice, only to have a 2 foot cheese strand hanging on is pretty crazy. And since we have no self control, we bite into what I can only describe as a molten piece of lava. But what good pizza eating experience doesn't involve a trip to the burn unit! Needless to say, the pizza was amazing. As hungry as we were, we couldn't eat more and a single slice. It was just too filling. In all the right ways. We are already planning a return trip to experience some of the other amazing selections we saw others eating.

Purgatory Pizza is a favorite in our home! The pepperoni is a classic delicious slice. The White Iverson is my personal favorite is a garlic and olive oil base, it is packed with flavor! The BBQ Pizza is also another to try, I don't usually like BBQ Pizza due to the pineapple but they do a great job of balancing the ingredients. Parking can be tricky but if the lot is full you can usually find parking on the street.

First time I threw up from pizza. Thanks for the experience. I should've just starved

Great pizza in a fun atmosphere with great indie art and murals to look at. Purgatory Pizza pretty much explains the location of where it is located. It is just outside of Little Tokyo but on the way to Boyle Heights. Parking is hard to find so I often come here when I am checking out art next door at Self Help Graphics. I normally come here for single slice pizzas. Perfect slices heated to perfection; the pepperoni pizza is just a good classic slice with a remarkable crust. This time around, I came with friends and we ordered a whole pie of Dante's Inferno: goat cheese, spicy pepperoni, sliced jalapenos and we added spinach. Lawwwd it was a great pizza with a crispy yet chewy crust. It was a perfect way to end the night of art. Great service and cool merchandise, this spot is a great place for no nonsense delicious pizza.

Pizza here is delicious! I wanted to try several styles so we got a bunch of slices. If a slice is god, a fresh baked pizza is probably even better! I would return for the pizza any day. But a few things that aren't great are the selection of beers, the amount of seating available, and the parking. Lose a star for those reasons. Otherwise a great place to grab a slice!

Some of the best darn pizza in all of LA ! Always fresh and hot. They have great quick and friendly service. Their options from gluten free to the meatiest pies are incredible. Love the fact that they sell Yerba mates to pair ! 11/10 and it's so hard to go anywhere else in the city for pizza.